PLAINFIELD — It’s easy to get overwhelmed when walking through the doors at Primo Banquet and Conference Center during the annual Taste of Hendricks County event.

The banquet room is set up 24 booths from various restaurants and food establishments and they’re all handing out samples of their food and beverages.

Bill Jarchow, regional advertising director for the Hendricks County Flyer, said he was pleased with how this year’s event turned out.

“It was initially almost overwhelming,” he said. “We knew it would be a little bit bigger this year and we were really pleased with the money we raised. It was an overwhelming success and it was a good night for Hendricks County.”

The Hendricks County Flyer, along with Hendricks Power Cooperative and the Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau, sponsor the annual event.

The event serves as a fundraiser for two local non-profit organizations: Leadership Hendricks County and the Hendricks County Community Foundation.

Leadership Hendricks County works to provide citizens with the background and inside information needed to take on effective leadership roles in the community. The Hendricks County Community Foundation serves as a conduit for donors to ensure their charitable giving achieves the greatest impact in the community.

Bread Basket Cafe and Bakery owner Judy Sexton said the charitable part of the evening was one of the reasons she got involved. She was there offering peanut butter cream pie, coconut cream pie, white chocolate berry cream pie, lemon blueberry cream cake, and other treats.

“This is my third year,” Sexton said. “I just thought it was a great opportunity. It gets people to taste my food, we’re a destination. And it’s a fundraising event for the county and I love to get to see all the people.”

Participants in this year’s Taste of Hendricks County included those who have been a part of it since its inception in 2004, along with a few new faces.

Owners of Cajuns Cafe and Catering in Avon were handing out Mardi Gras beads alongside their chicken and sausage jambalaya, red beans and rice, and bread pudding. It was their first year to participate in the show.

Tish DeJean, one of the restaurant’s owners, said they were excited to be part of it.

“It sounded like a great opportunity to share our family recipes,” she said. “There’s a lot of flavor in Cajun food and the food is really good.”

Other restaurants like Big Apple Bagels in Avon were offering fare that included mini bagels and bagel sandwiches. The Coachman Restaurant in Plainfield was offering a sampling of their prime rib, and Frank and Mary’s Restaurant in Pittsboro had their famous fried catfish and gumbo up for grabs.

Tracy and Jason Walker of Danville were enjoying their second trip to the event.

“We’d been last year,” Tracy said. “I think this year is better, but I don’t think you could pick a favorite (food). Everything’s really good.”

Plainfield residents Amanda and Josh Green came out to the event to see if they possibly wanted to be involved in next year’s Taste of Hendricks County.

“We own the Piezannos Pizza in Plainfield,” Amanda said. “We’re small and advertising is expensive and taste is everything.”

Editor’s note: To see more photographs from the 2009 Taste of Hendricks County see page A15 in today’s paper or visit the website at www.flyergroup.com and go to the multimedia section.

charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com